Gila Bend Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gila Bend, Arizona 85337
Sunday, March 17, 2013 11:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported that while he was attempting to land the airplane, it drifted left, and he decided to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane struck a tree located left of the runway then impacted the ground. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and wings. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Gila Bend
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85337
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 325722N
Event Location Longitude 1124015W
Event Location Airport Gila Bend Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E63
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 789
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID KGXF
Elevation of weather observation facility 883
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KGXF 171855Z 28011G15KT 10SM CLR 28/M03 A298
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31308
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2013 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5802J
NTSB Number WPR13CA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17273839
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 7 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 16114
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name ZULUFT LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85716-3226
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Sonoran Wings
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tucson
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85716
Operator Code ULDS
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TUS
Departure City Tucson
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code E63
Destination City Gila Bend
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 7 2013 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --